Academic Programs in Medical Physics. Justin Cantley, Ph.D. David Hintenlang, Ph.D. University of Florida Medical Physics Program

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1 Academic Programs in Medical Physics Justin Cantley, Ph.D. David Hintenlang, Ph.D. University of Florida Medical Physics Program

2 Graduate Programs in Medical Physics Educate graduates to succeed in research and/or clinical careers Interface with credentialing organizations and residency programs Most current graduates seek individual certification through the American Board of Radiology (ABR)

organizations and residency programs Most current graduates seek

3 Terminology Certification: Individual physicists are certified in a specialty area of medical physics through an exam by process by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) Licensure: Individuals are licensed to practice in specific States by the State Accreditation: Educational programs in Medical Physics are accredited by CAMPEP (Commision for Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Programs)

are licensed to practice in specific States by the State Accreditation: Educational programs in

4 Pathways to Professional Practice of Medical Physics Overview of Recent Changes Required 2 year clinical residency for eligibility to complete Board exam process Effective for 2014 exams (effectively in place now) Residencies must be CAMPEP Accredited Residency Applicants should have a CAMPEP accredited graduate degree

process Effective for 2014 exams (effectively in place now) Residencies must be

5 Motivation for Board Certification Board Certification is generally accepted as the standard of practice Defines a Qualified Medical Physicist (QMP) Required for State License to practice MP a regulatory requirement to independently practice medical physics in licensure states Florida, Hawaii, New York, Texas (others in progress)

State License to practice MP a regulatory requirement to independently practice

6 Types of Programs Accredited by CAMPEP Graduate Programs Certificates MS PhD Clinical Residency Programs (Imaging or Therapy) May also grant Certificates Doctorate of Medical Physics (DMP) A professional degree integrating a 2 yr didactic and 2 yr residency programs.

Therapy) May also grant Certificates Doctorate of Medical Physics

7 Pathway to Professional Practice BS in Physics or Engineering (must include the equivalent of a minor in Physics) CAMPEP Graduate Degree in Medical Physics (MS or PhD) CAMPEP Residency Specialization in Diagnostic Imaging or Radiation Therapy

Physics) CAMPEP Graduate Degree in Medical Physics (MS or

8 Alternate Pathway Earned PhD in related Field (i.e. Physics) Earn CAMPEP Certificate in Medical Physics CAMPEP Residency Specialization in Diagnostic Imaging or Radiation Therapy

9 Source of Requirements? American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Parent organization to the ABR Certifies all Physician Specialties and Physicists Medical Physicists are one of two non-physician groups certified under the ABMS Uniform standards drive physics training to parallel physician training i.e. the requirement for residency training Dictates Maintenance of Certification requirements

Specialties and Physicists Medical Physicists are one of two non-physician groups certified under

10 American Board of Radiology (ABR) Adopts the ABMS requirements Tailors these to Radiologist, Radiation Oncologists, and Medical Physicists Conducts the Certification Process through Board Exam Implements the Maintenance of Certification Process

Oncologists, and Medical Physicists Conducts the

11 CAMPEP Accredits educational programs in MP Ensures ABR requirements are integrated into educational programs. Reviews programs annually

12 ABR Board Exam Process Part I (Written: General and Clinical) May be taken while enrolled in CAMPEP Graduate Program Part II (Written in specialization area) Diagnostic Radiological Physics Therapeutic Radiological Physics Medical Nuclear Physics Taken following completion of corresponding residency program. Part III (Oral) In specialization area Taken after passing Part II written

Physics Therapeutic Radiological Physics Medical Nuclear Physics Taken following completion of

13 CAMPEP Residency Programs Located in the US, Canada, Ireland 66 Programs in Radiation Therapy Physics 8 Programs in Imaging Physics Approximate Number of Graduates: 90 per year in Radiation Therapy 8 per year in Imaging

Programs in Imaging Physics Approximate Number of

14 CAMPEP Graduate Programs Located in the US, Canada, Korea 44 graduate programs Approximate number of graduates 300 per year

15 Observations: Not enough residency positions to accommodate all graduate program graduates Residency programs can be selective and preferentially accept PhD graduates Not enough residency programs to satisfy expected MP workforce needs Few imaging residency programs No dedicated Nuclear Medicine residency programs (integrated into Imaging programs)

Not enough residency programs to satisfy expected MP workforce needs Few imaging

16 Medical Physics Graduate Programs Subject matter to be covered by curriculum is describe by AAPM Task Group Report 197 Typically ~ 2 years in length for MS Program sizes range from approximately 5-80 students (Average ~ 20 students) Some programs accredited only for the MS degree

years in length for MS Program sizes range from approximately 5-80

17 CAMPEP Accreditation Accreditation includes Initial review of program s Self Study Site Visit Accreditation Period 3 year initial accreditation 5 year subsequent accreditation Annual review

18 UF Medical Physics Program Offerings BS in Biomedical Engineering- Medical Physics Track (incorporates equivalent of Physics Minor) Certificate in Medical Physics May be completed via distance education MS PhD Diagnostic Imaging Physics Residency Radiation Therapy Physics Residency UF offerings include all CAMPEP programs except the DMP

be completed via distance education MS PhD Diagnostic Imaging Physics Residency

19 UF Medical Physics Graduate Program One of the oldest and largest programs Established 1961 in Department of Radiology CAMPEP Accredited in 2001 Joint Program between College of Engineering and College of Medicine Departments: Biomedical Engineering, Neurosurgery, Radiology, Radiation Oncology

2001 Joint Program between College of Engineering and College of Medicine

20 Graduate Students Steady state student enrollment ~ 42 75% of admitted students will pursue PhD 25% earn MS degree 50/50 male/female student population ~ 220 graduates since 1980

21 MS Curriculum Summary First Fall Radiological Physics, Measurement & Dosimetry First Spring Therapy Physics I Summer Diagnostic Practicum Medical Physics Diagnostic Physics Therapy Physics II Radiological Anatomy Radiation Biology Elective: Research Second Fall Imaging System Analysis BME Seminar Elective: Diagnostic or Rad Therapy III or Research Second Spring Shielding & Rad Protection Nuclear Medicine BME Seminar Elective: Rad Dosimetry or Research Summer Optional : Research

22 Academic Backgrounds of entering students Other Engineering 19% Nuclear Engineering 28% Medical Physics 24% Physics 29%

23 Initial Career Paths of Graduates Continuing Ed 30% Residency 30% Post-doc 10% Junior Physicist 30%

24 Conclusions UF has had near 100% placement of students in positions in past years Challenges ahead as competition for limited Residency positions increases Medical Physics Profession opportunities are uncertain: Currently not enough residency requirements to satisfy work force requirements Employment of MS graduates? May see opportunities for non-certified physicists in states that do not require licensure? Or continued increase in residency programs?

25 References for more details: ABR : CAMPEP: UF Programs: Task Group 197 Report on Graduate Programs: State Licensure: re/default.asp

Professional Doctorate Program in Medical Physics (DMP) University of Cincinnati. Program Assessment. August 2014

Professional Doctorate Program in Medical Physics (DMP) University of Cincinnati Program Assessment August 2014 Program Director Howard R. Elson, Ph.D. Barrett Cancer Center 513-584-9092 [email protected]